State Briefs 6/26/08

SPRINGFIELD – A Springfield man was charged Wednesday with three counts of tattooing minors without a parent’s permission.

Rudolpho Carlos, 39, is being sent a notice to appear in court on the charges that stem from an incident last month.

On May 13, a Springfield mother complained to police that Carlos had tattooed the arms of her two 14-year-old children and her 16-year-old child in the basement of his home. It was the third similar accusation against Carlos, but the first time he’s been formally charged.

The charge is a Class A misdemeanor punishable by probation up to less than 12 months in jail. Fines also could be imposed.

In April 2007, Carlos was arrested for tattooing a 15-year-old boy on the back of his hands without getting parental consent. The boy’s stepfather complained to police. In September, he was again suspected of tattooing a 14-year-old girl after the girl’s mother called police. Carlos was not arrested, but a report was forwarded to the state’s attorney’s office.

State Journal-Register

Car plows into optometrist’s office

MARION – Patients got quite a shock while waiting to see an optometrist Wednesday.

A car driven by Sharon Fuller, of Arizona, plowed through the waiting room of Dr. John D. Power on West Main Street. The owner of the car, Fuller’s mother Geraldine Kelley, was a passenger in the vehicle.

According to Joyce Fisher of Herrin, who was in the waiting room, a woman who was seated in the waiting room was struck by the car.

"It was the loudest sound I have ever heard," Fisher said. "The lady who was hit literally went flying across the room. She did however get up and was able to stand on her own."

The unidentified woman was transported to the hospital.

Several people, including Fisher, were treated by paramedics at the scene for minor injuries. They had been struck by flying bricks, pieces of wood and shards of glass.

No citations were issued.

Marion Daily Republican

Nighttime house fire started by lightning

GERMANTOWN HILLS — A house caught fire after being struck by lightning early Wednesday morning.

Jennifer Domnick and her 12-year-old daughter, Jessica, escaped the burning house uninjured about 5:15 a.m., shortly after they heard a deafening cracking sound. Flames shot several feet up from the roof within minutes at the house, she said.

Germantown Hills Fire Chief Chip Wilmot said it is presumed that lightning caused the fire, which engulfed the second floor of the house. He estimated the fire damage to be about $300,000.

Jessica Domnick's upstairs bedroom was quickly consumed by the flames, but luckily she was sleeping in her mother's bedroom on the first floor at the time.

Jennifer Domnick said she quickly took her daughter outside once it was apparent the house was on fire.

"There was no smoke in the house. It smelled like burning wire," she said.

Journal Star, Peoria

Peoria cab employee foils attempted robbery

PEORIA — A man working at a Peoria cab company wrestled a handgun away from his assailant during an attempted robbery Tuesday night.

About 11:45 p.m., the 55-year-old employee at Pearlene Bell Cab Co. told police a masked man was displaying the weapon when he walked into the business.

The armed man pointed the gun at the employee's wife, who also was working at Pearlene Bell, but the male employee intervened and eventually knocked the weapon away, according to police reports.

Once the male employee recovered the weapon, a second round of fighting ensued during which the attacker was stripped of his mask and shoes.

The suspect then fled, leaving behind the gun and his clothing. He is described as being about 5 feet 6 inches tall and 150 pounds with short black braided hair.

A police dog attempted to track the suspect, but lost the trail after about a block.

The male victim said he recognized the attacker from the neighborhood.

Journal Star, Peoria

North Peorian sparks fire with oxygen machine

PEORIA — A North Peoria man suffered second and third degree burns Wednesday morning after lighting a cigarette while using an oxygen machine.

David C. Reynolds, 60, was taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center, where his condition was not available Wednesday night.

Reynolds, who was in a wheelchair and on oxygen, accidently sparked a fire when he lit or began smoking a cigarette near his breathing machine, which pumps highly-flammable oxygen.

The flames burned the clothes off of his body, reports said, but he was able to wheel himself to his kitchen, where he extinguished the fire with water from the kitchen sink.

The fire also left damage to the living room carpet and the oxygen machine.

Journal Star, Peoria

Church's Chicken robber tells manager that robbery is his job

PEORIA — A talkative gunman told a manager at a South Peoria fast food restaurant that he robs for a living during a late night hold-up Tuesday.

The thief got away with more than $700 from Church's Chicken during a robbery about 10:20 p.m. An employee told police she was sweeping when a man with a bandana over his face entered. She told him to remove the bandana, but then noticed he was holding a handgun.

The gunman told the manager, who was counting money in the back of the store, that "I'm wanted for two murders already," and also said he robs for a living. After taking the money from a register bin, he then asked for more money. However, about that time, two women entered the restaurant, where they noticed the robbery taking place and ran from the store.

The gunman then ordered the manager to get the two fleeing customers, but she replied they had run away, the report stated. Apparently spooked, he also fled, running east from the business.

A police dog tracked the robber about four blocks until it lost the scent.

Journal Star, Peoria

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